In November, the new poker documentary The Ultimate Stack was released for free on YouTube (check out our review of the film here). Leading up to it, the PokerNews Podcast helped promote the documentary by giving away a coveted seat into the $5,000,000 ClupWPT Gold Invitational Freeroll.
To enter, viewers/listeners had to make sure they were signed up for ClubWPT Gold and then simply put “PokerNews” in the comment section on YouTube.
A random drawing was held on the November 15 episode to determine a winner and that ended up being 39-year-old Dan Dombrowski from Wisconsin. Along with his wife, Missy, the two are well-known in the Madison Poker Community despite both playing poker recreationally. Dombrowski has a bachelor’s degree in sports management but works managing residential construction.
“My wife actually told me about the freeroll after she saw it on Twitter. She kept an eye out for any contests for both of us to sign up,” Dombrowski said when asked how he heard about the PokerNews giveaway. “She got a seat through a drawing on Jamie Kerstetter’s X page. We watched the PokerNews Podcast and saw the Ultimate Stack contest so I entered that way.”
Dombrowski’s name was selected in a random draw on the PokerNews Podcast, and they were alerted right away.
“We got the call about winning the seat while we were in Mexico with some friends, and it really lit up the night for all of us,” Dombrowski explained. “I had actually just been telling her we needed to keep trying to get me a seat since she already had one and I wanted one too. Then less than an hour later PokerNews called with the good news!
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Dombrowski’s Poker Journey
Dombrowski learned to play poker and other card games from his dad, and then he learned about no-limit hold’em after Rounders came out.
“I got more into poker with friends in high school during the Moneymaker Boom,” said Dombrowski. “We’d get together and play sit and go’s or small tournaments for bragging rights and beer money. My Dad was a huge supporter of my poker goals and would always buy some action for events that I was playing. It was something special we shared together. Both him and my mom are no longer with us so it’s something I hold onto as great memories.”
Dombrowski has over $116K in tournament earnings according to the Hendon Mob. That includes winning the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Potawatomi Event #5: $250 NLH for $11,652 and a gold ring.
“I play regularly, mostly in tournaments around the Midwest and cash games between Milwaukee and Chicago. A lot of our friends are poker grinders, and we have a very tight-knit group in the Midwest who all share the love of poker. Traveling to Vegas during summer for a week is always something that we look forward to every year.”
Dombrowski has actually only played one WPT event before, a $3,500 at the Seminole Hard Rock, and that’s mainly due to the fact that there aren’t many WPTs in the Midwest.
“I play more MSPT tournaments. A few deep runs in some MSPTs and the circuit ring I previously mentioned are some of my best accomplishments. I’m still fishing for that major title and a six-figure score. Missy and I battle yearly with Hendon Mob cashes and she beat me last year, so I’m making sure I win this year. Hopefully, a deep run in this Freeroll will seal the deal!”